The Complete Guide to Giant Sequoia Trees in Yosemite

The spectacular groves of Giant Sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park are one of the biggest draws to this incredible natural landscape. Surrounded by granite monuments, glacier-carved valleys, and the Sierra Nevada mountains, it’s the perfect setting to admire Yosemite’s big trees.

But how many sequoia trees can you find in Yosemite, and are they the same as California’s coastal redwoods? Here’s everything you need to know about giant sequoia trees in Yosemite, including which sequoia groves are worth visiting, and how far they are from San Francisco.

What Are Giant Sequoia Trees?

The family of giant redwoods (Sequoioideae) in California includes the coastal redwoods — the tallest trees on the planet – and the Giant Sequoias. While these two kinds of trees have common characteristics, like cinnamon-red bark, they are actually two different species.

California redwoods grow in a narrow stretch along the coast, while sequoias only only along the Sierra Nevada mountains’ western slope at elevations of between 4-8,000 thousand feet. Giant Sequoias in Yosemite are the largest living things on the planet and are California’s official state tree.

You can find sequoia trees in Yosemite in three places. Mariposa Grove, near the park’s south entrance, is home to the famous Grizzly Giant. Two smaller — and less visited — Yosemite sequoia groves are Tuolumne Grove and Merced Grove near Crane Flat. Find them all in the Giant Sequoias map below.

If you’re planning to visit the Giant Sequoia trees in Yosemite, plan ahead so you avoid the crowds and make the most of your time in Yosemite. Here are the three sequoia groves in Yosemite, as well as a few outside the park:

Mariposa Grove in Yosemite Park

The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, near Yosemite’s south entrance, has more than 500 mature giant sequoia trees. It was also one of the first natural areas to be set aside for conservation in the U.S.. In 1864, President Lincoln signed the first ever federal legislation protecting scenic natural areas for “public use, resort, and recreation.”

Getting to Mariposa Grove

Mariposa Grove is the most popular place to see sequoia trees in Yosemite, and you can get there by car, bike, or on foot.

Car. By car, drive from Yosemite Valley Lodge to the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza. During most of the year, you can catch a shuttle bus from the Welcome Plaza to the grove entrance. If the shuttles aren’t running, it’s a 2-mile hike to the Lower Grove of Giant Sequoias along the Washburn Trail.

If you’re traveling in a vehicle with a disability placard or license plate, you can drive on Mariposa Grove Road as far as the Grizzly Giant parking area.

Bike. You can bike along the paved portion of Mariposa Grove Road to the Grizzly Giant parking area until the road closes on or before November 30 (depending on conditions). Bicycles aren’t allowed on any trails, unpaved roads, sidewalks, or boardwalks.

Hike. You can also take a longer hike all the way from Wawona to Mariposa Grove. From the Wawona Hotel, follow the 6.5-mile trail to Mariposa Grove. Just be prepared for significant elevation change.

Sequoia Trees in Mariposa Grove

Mariposa Grove contains hundreds of giant sequoias, but the following three sequoia trees in Yosemite are standouts:

Grizzly Giant: This tree is 100 feet in circumference and is estimated to be 2,700 years old, possibly making it the world’s oldest sequoia.

Fallen Monarch: A toppled sequoia that gives visitors a view of the species’ famed shallow roots. This giant tree had already fallen when the grove was discovered in the mid-19th century.

Wawona Tunnel Tree: A large, rectangular tunnel was cut through the tree’s enormous base in 1881 to permit horse-drawn wagons (and later cars) to drive straight through the tunnel tree.

Hikes in Mariposa Grove

The trails in Mariposa Grove have been recently renovated. You’ll find a variety of easy to strenuous trails within the grove, including:

Big Trees Loop Trail (easy): A 0.3 mile (0.5 km) loop from the trailhead. This trail features the Fallen Monarch and has interpretive panels on the life and ecology of Giant Sequoias. This loop is wheelchair accessible.

Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (moderate): A 2-mile (3.2 km) loop from the trailhead. The hike passes trees such as the Bachelor and Three Graces, Grizzly Giant, and California Tunnel Tree.

Guardians Loop Trail (strenuous): A 6.5-mile (10.5 km) round-trip from the trailhead. After hiking to the grove’s tranquil upper portion, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) loop takes hikers past the fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree, Telescope Tree, and the Mariposa Grove Cabin.

Mariposa Grove Trail (strenuous): A 7-mile (11.3 km) round-trip from the trailhead to Wawona Point. This trail follows a route to see famous sequoias such as The Bachelor and Three Graces, Faithful Couple, and the Clothespin Tree.  Be prepared for 1,200 feet (366m) of elevation gain on your way to scenic Wawona Point overlook.

Things to Know Before You Go to Mariposa Grove

Check local road conditions before you go since Highway 140 may be closed from November through April due to snow. The drive takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley.

Pets are not allowed on any trails in the Mariposa Grove. Pets are allowed in the parking areas on leash only. Pets are not allowed on shuttles.

There are restrooms at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and Arrival Area, near the Mariposa Grove Cabin, and near the Grizzly Giant year-round.

Drinking water is available only at the welcome plaza and the arrival area at Mariposa Grove (summer only), so plan accordingly.

There are no food services available at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza or within the Mariposa Grove. The Depot, located at the welcome plaza, has a selection of books, maps, general information, and gifts.

In winter, the Visitors Center is closed and the park has no formal services, but visitors can park at the start of the Mariposa Grove Road and cross-country ski or snowshoe in to see the Giant Sequoias.

Tuolumne Grove in Yosemite Park

Tuolumne Grove offers a serene hike to a stand of old-growth Giant Sequoias that avoids the crowds at Mariposa Grove. This grove has about two dozen mature giant sequoias, including a fallen one you can walk through, after a one-mile, downhill hike. If you go early enough in the morning, you may be lucky enough to get some alone time to admire the giant trees.

Getting to Tuolumne Grove

This grove of giant redwoods is located on Tioga Road just east of Crane Flat.

From Yosemite Valley, take highway 120 ten miles (16.8 km) to the Crane Flat/Tioga Road turnoff, then take Tioga Road half a mile (0.8 km) east to the Tuolumne Grove parking lot. From Yosemite’s east entrance at Tioga Pass, take the Tioga Road west about 60 miles (95 km) to the lot.

It can be easy to miss the trailhead. On Old Big Oak Flat Road, look for the “Entering the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias” sign. You can find a Google Street View panorama of the trailhead parking area here.

Things to Do in Tuolumne Grove

The Tuolumne Grove has about 25 mature Giant Sequoia trees and miles of isolated hiking trails perfect for an uncrowded experience with Yosemite National Park’s natural wonders.

The hike to the grove of giant sequoia trees is 2.5 miles (4 km) round-trip. It can be a strenuous hike for some since the trail begins at 6,200 feet (1,860 meters) and there is an elevation gain of 400 feet (120 meters) on the return to the trailhead. Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours for the hike.

Keep an eye out for the Dead Giant. This tunneled sequoia is no longer alive but is still standing. A tunnel was cut through it in the early 1870s to attract stagecoach tourism traffic.

Ranger-led programs may be available on a limited basis; check local listings for dates, times, and locations.

Things to Know Before You Go to Tuolumne Grove

There are restrooms at the trailhead. Water is not available, so bring drinking water for everyone in your group. The one-mile hike back to the parking lot is strenuous due to the elevation gain.

Plan your visit for June through October, since access to the trees may not be possible in winter when the trail is covered in ice and snow. In winter, the trail to Tuolumne Grove is marked for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

The drive takes about 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley and parking is limited. You can also visit this location on Extranomical Tours’ Giant Sequoias and Yosemite National Park 1-day tour.

Merced Grove in Yosemite Park

If you’re looking for a quiet, uncrowded grove of Giant Sequoias, Merced Grove is another great option. This grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite is home to approximately 20 mature giant sequoias, accessible only on foot.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Yosemite in the spring, you might also see the wildflowers in bloom. Look for clusters of Western Azalea, one of Yosemite’s most spectacular flowers, just past the last group of sequoias. You can find more details about the grove at the National Park Service website here.

Getting to Merced Grove

The Merced Grove trailhead is located on the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120), 4.5 miles southeast of Big Oak Flat Entrance to Yosemite. It’s 3.5 miles north of Crane Flat. The trail is marked by a sign and a post labeled B-10.

The trailhead and parking area is easy to miss, so here’s a Google Street View panorama of the trailhead parking area.

Things to Do in Merced Grove

During summer, do the relatively easy hike down to the sequoia grove. This trail to the giant sequoia trees follows an old road that curves down into the grove. The sequoias are only visible after a 1.5-mile hike with 500 feet of elevation loss. The uphill return trip makes this a moderate hike.

The grove features a 100-year-old log cabin that was the site of Yosemite’s first ranger station. Later, the log cabin served as a summer retreat for park superintendents and still stands today.

In winter, ski or snowshoe touring to the Merced Grove can be incredible. The first half mile is level and easy, providing a good warm-up for the steep 1-mile (1.6 km) descent into the sequoia grove. The trail is not groomed, so icy conditions or deep snow can make the trail difficult.

Things to Know Before You Go to Merced Grove

Water is not available; bring drinking water for everyone in your group who will be hiking this trail. Parking is extremely limited.

In winter, the trail is marked for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Giant Sequoia Groves Outside of Yosemite

Yosemite is one of the best national parks near San Francisco and well worth a visit — but isn’t the only place you can see Giant Sequoias. Here are a few places you can see Giant Sequoias outside of Yosemite:

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park features terrain similar to Yosemite Valley, and is home to the deepest canyon in the United States. This massive area is actually two separate parks. Their giant sequoias, like General Grant and General Sherman, are not only big, but old: otanists estimate they are between 1,800 and 2,700 years old.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is spectacularly beautiful and preserves two groves of giant sequoias. The park is a mixed-conifer forest where you will find the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, ancient volcanic formations, and natural meadows. In the fall, the dogwoods change color and make the experience even more special.

FAQs

Where are the Giant Sequoia trees?

Giant Sequoias are only found on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada at elevations between 4,000 and 8,000 feet (1219 and 2438 m). Forty different Giant Sequoia groves are protected within parks from Crescent City to Orick, CA. The most popular groves are within a 5-6-hour drive of San Francisco.

Are sequoias and redwoods the same?

Sequoias and redwoods are not the same, although they’re both part of the same tree family (Sequoioideae). It includes California’s coastal redwoods — the tallest trees on the planet – and sequoias, the largest trees by volume. Only sequoias are found in Yosemite National Park.

How old are Giant Sequoia trees?

Giant sequoia trees can live to be more than 3,000 years old. A wedge-shaped section of a small 15-foot sequoia shows an actual ring count of 1,830 years. Since many sequoias can reach 30 feet in diameter, botanists estimate that some of these trees are more than 3,000 years old.

Which is the oldest Giant Sequoia tree?

The President tree in Sequoia National Park is the oldest known sequoia. The ages of Giant Sequoias are only estimates, since an actual ring count would damage the tree. Here is the estimated age of the five oldest sequoias:

1. President                               3,200 years
2. Washington                           2,850 years
3. Mother of the Forest             2,500 years
4. General Sherman                  2,400 years
5. Grizzly Giant                          2,200 years

Where is the largest Giant Sequoia tree?

The largest known sequoia is General Sherman in Sequoia National Park. This tree stands 275 feet tall, has a 102-foot circumference, and weighs 2.7 million pounds. It stands in Grant Grove near Lodgepole Village.

Where are the drive-through trees?

There are several drive-through sequoia trees in Yosemite and other parts of California, although not all of them are still open to cars. The 2,100-year-old Wawona Tunnel Tree is located in Mariposa Grove, but fell over in 1969.

The Pioneer Cabin Tree, with its hollow trunk, is located in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and the 276-foot-tall Chandelier Tree is still growing in Leggett, California. The first drive-through tree was in Tuolumne Grove in Yosemite National Park, and you can still walk through it today.

Where are the Giant Sequoia trees in Yosemite?

Yosemite National Park has three groves of Giant Sequoias. The most easily accessible is Mariposa Grove near the park’s South Entrance. Two smaller groves are the Tuolumne and Merced Groves near Crane Flat.

How far is Sequoia National Park from Yosemite?

Sequoia National Park is a 3 to 4-hour drive south of Yosemite. The National Park Services manages Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks as a single entity.

How do you get to Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias?

There are a few ways to get to the Mariposa Grove, depending on your starting point. From the Highway 120 entrance:

Head southwest on Highway 120 toward Crane Flat. Continue straight on Big Oak Flat Rd. heading toward the Valley. Turn left onto El Portal Rd. Slight right onto Southside Dr, Slight right onto Highway 41. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Mariposa Grove Rd.

From the Welcome Plaza, you can either take a free shuttle (if running,) or hike around 2 miles to the Mariposa Grove trailhead.

How do you get to Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias?

From the Highway 120 entrance: Continue on Highway 120 to Crane Flat. Turn left onto Tioga Rd. Turn left into the Tuolumne Grove trailhead parking lot.

How do you get to Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias?

From the Highway 120 entrance: Continue straight on Highway 120. Turn right into the Merced Grove trailhead parking lot.

How far are the Giant Sequoias from San Francisco?

It’s around 4-5 hours by car or bus from San Francisco to either the northern gate (Highway 120) or the southern gate (Highway 140) of Yosemite. Times can vary based on traffic and road conditions.

There is no direct public transportation from San Francisco to Yosemite, but you can take a day trip from San Francisco on a guided tour.

Want to see the Giant Sequoias without the hassle? Book a Yosemite and Giant Sequoias tour from San Francisco and leave the driving to us!